The information below is intended to assist you as you consider your travel options with Explore. In addition to the detailed itinerary each tour has been supported with some useful information to provide you with an overview of your accommodation & meals, all things money, passports, visas, vaccinations, insurance, clothing, personal equipment and much more to help you with your travel preparations.

Tour du Mont Blanc

Tour notes

Each departure date has it's own dedicated tour note, detailing all you need to know about that tour. Whether you've already booked, or weighing up your options, please choose carefully the relevant itinerary for you.

We have the following different versions of the Tour Du Mont Blanc tour available at present.

Accommodation Notes

We stay at small, family-run hotels for nine nights and in a traditional auberge (guesthouse) for one night. The hotels in Les Houches and Les Contamines have swimming pools. In the hotels you will usually be accommodated in twin rooms with private bathrooms, though occasionally you may have the use of a shared bathroom along the corridor. Very occasionally during exceptionally busy periods there may be more than two people to a room (triple or quad). At Les Chapieux we stay at an auberge: this is a traditional mountain inn that is clean, friendly, full of fellow trekkers and has a great atmosphere. At the auberge we aim to have twins, triples or quads, but you may be in a dormitory if it is a busy part of the season. The bathrooms are shared. All bedding is provided.

Most meals are included at the hotels and auberge and will be a fixed three or four-course meal with vegetarian options. Drinks are not included, but all hotels have a selection of wines, beers and soft drinks.

You will need some extra money to cover meals and drinks not included in the tour price, any optional sightseeing, souvenirs and
items of a personal nature such as laundry.

Food

The costs for meals may vary depending upon location, type of restaurant and number of courses eaten and so the prices given are an average guide.Local restaurants located off the beaten track may be less expensive, whereas an upmarket restaurant located in the centre of a major city may charge more.

France

Lunch £:
11.00

Dinner £:
23.00

Switzerland

Lunch £:
16.00

Dinner £:
23.00

Italy

Lunch £:
8 - 10

Dinner £:
15.00 - 20.00

Drink

The prices for drinks can vary greatly depending upon location and the prices detailed below are an average guide. In general you would expect that drinks purchased in a supermarket or local bar to be less expensive, whilst drinks in an upmarket bar or restaurant may be more expensive.

France

Bottle of Beer £:
4.00

Water £:
1.30

Switzerland

Bottle of Beer £:
5.20

Water £:
1.50

Italy

Bottle of Beer £:
2.00

Water £:
1.00

Tipping - Tour Leader

At your discretion you might also consider tipping your Tour Leader in appreciation of the efficiency and service you receive.

Tipping - Local Crew

Service is included in French restaurants, although it is polite to tip 10% if the service has been very good. Bar staff and café waiters expect a small tip or loose change.
In Italy service is not included – allow 10% - and they also have a cover charge, or coperto, of 1 or 2 euros which is obligatory and literally pays for you to sit down.

Foreign Exchange

France

ATM Availability:
In cities and most major towns

Credit Card Acceptance:
In major restaurants (make sure you have informed your credit card company that you are travelling abroad as some companies will reject payments)

Travellers Cheques:
Travellers Cheques are no longer commonly accepted and can only be changed in larger airports with a Bureau de Change.

Local Currency:
Euro

Recommended Currency for Exchange:
Pounds Sterling and US Dollars can only be changed in larger airports with a Bureau de Change. Please change currency into Euros prior to arriving in France.

Where to Exchange:
Bureau de Change can only be found in major cities and large airports. Many French banks no longer exchange Foreign currency.

Switzerland

ATM Availability:
Local currency can be obtained using credit cards in ATM’s.

Credit Card Acceptance:
In major restaurants.

Travellers Cheques:
Not recommended.

Local Currency:
Swiss Franc.

Recommended Currency for Exchange:
Euros. You can either take some cash Swiss Francs to avoid having to change or most places will accept Euros as payment.

Where to Exchange:
Most major towns - your Tour Leader will advise you on arrival

Italy

ATM Availability:
Major towns.

Credit Card Acceptance:
Larger hotels and restaurants.

Travellers Cheques:
Only in major towns. Please note, the exchange rate for cash and Travellers Cheques is poor.

Local Currency:
Euro.

Recommended Currency for Exchange:
GBP.

Where to Exchange:
We recommend that you change any currency into Euros prior to arrival. Bureau de Change are generally only found in major cities and large airports.

Visa Information

France: Visas are not required by UK, EU nationals, Australian, New Zealand, US and Canadian citizens.

Italy: Visas are not required by UK, EU nationals, Australian, New Zealand, US and Canadian citizens.

Switzerland: Visas are not required by UK, EU nationals, Australian, New Zealand, US and Canadian citizens.
Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office.

All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related questions with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.

Vaccinations & Protection

France

Nothing compulsory. Tetanus recommended.
The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health
advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider.

Switzerland

Nothing compulsory; Tetanus recommended.
The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider.

Italy

Nothing required. Tetanus recommended.
The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider.

Additional Information for your trekking Tour

Climate

France

Across France, from April - August, weather conditions are generally warm and pleasant with moderate rainfall; Autumn temperatures are a bit lower and the winter months (though colder) remain mild. The summer months on the Mediterranean Coast in the south tend to be warmer than the rest of France and have less rainfall, and also more mild winters; freezing conditions are nearly unheard of.
The mountainous areas of the Alps, Juros and Pyrenees can be quite different. During summer the morning and evening temperatures are considerably cooler and it becomes much colder in winter with heavy snowfall.
Western France, along the English Channel, there can be very strong winds and frequent rain during the winter months Nov - Apr.
Wine harvesting takes place in late August/early September.

Switzerland

Summers are generally warm, or even hot, with a three-month period when rain rarely falls. When it does rain in this season, it is heavy and often accompanied by thunder. There are as much as eleven to twelve hours’ sunshine a day in summer, but as with anywhere in mainland Europe it can occasionally be cold and wet. Early and late summer is generally the best times to visit this region.

Italy

April/May and October/November are pleasantly warm. June/September are the hottest months. Showers are common in Autumn.

Maximum Altitude on Trek (m)

2537

Trekking Details

This is an 8-day Trek with an average of 5 to 7 hours of walking a day. We will climb and descend distances of 1000 m on 5 of these days, reaching a maximum altitude of 2537 m. We have graded this trek as challenging.

Equipment

You will need a water bottle (preferably 2 litres), torch, insect repellent and high factor sun cream. You may like to bring trekking poles. It is a good idea to line your daysac with a good quality plastic bag. This will go a long way in protecting your gear from any rainstorms we encounter.
Tap water is safe to drink from the hotels and auberges, but water sources along the trail may not always be drinkable. We recommend you bring a 2 litre personal water bottle. Using tap water rather than bottled water will help avoid creating plastic bottle waste. Energy snacks including chocolate and sweets are recommended whilst on trek. Towels are not provided at Les Chapieux though you
can hire one for €1: we suggest that you bring an easi-dry towel as they are lightweight and easy to carry. You may also wish to bring a sleeping bag liner for the stay at the auberge.

Footwear

You will need walking boots with proper ankle support and good tread. Trekking shoes are not good enough for the walks as they do not give ankle support. In addition, you should avoid cheap boots found in high-street shops that are merely trainers with a higher canvas side sewn on. Make sure that your boots are worn-in and comfortable before the start of the trip. We recommend that you wear/carry your walking boots as hand luggage on the international flight: should your luggage be delayed, your well broken-in boots will be irreplaceable. Bring comfortable shoes/sandals for relaxing in the evenings.

Clothing

The following are essential for your tour: Good quality waterproof jacket and trousers (e.g. Gore-Tex / e-Vent), a pac-a-mac is not good enough, fleece jacket, comfortable walking trousers, shorts, warm hat and gloves, sunhat, sunglasses and high factor sun cream. Please be aware that temperatures can change dramatically at altitude and at night. There are swimming pools at the hotels in Les Houches and Les Contamines and a good public swimming pool in Chamonix. French health regulations require men to wear proper swimming trunks, not loose Bermuda / boxer-style trunks. For around-town wear in Chamonix, you may wish to bring some slightly smarter clothes.

Luggage: On Tour

One main piece of baggage and a waterproof daypack. A capacity of 40 litres is recommended as you will need to carry enough overnight clothes (spare underwear, T shirt and toiletries etc) for the nights when you will not have access to your main luggage (days 4,5,8,9). There are showers at every night stop.